Pneumatic action for musical instruments.



M. S. WRIGHT.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.3,1914- 1,214,865. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

mr NORRIS FEYERS ca, noru-unw. .wm momu. n c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS S. WRIGHT, OF \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application. filed November 3, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mourns S. WVRioirv, citizen of the United States, residing at lVorcester, in the county of lVorcester and State of h lassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Pneumatic Actions for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in pneumatic actions for self-playing musical instruments.

me of the primary objects of the invcntion is to provide a comparatively inexpensive pneumatic action, for the described purpose, and. one that is exceedingly compact in design, strong and durable, and at the same time highly eiiicient in operation.

It has been found desirable at times to remove the primary pneumatic and valve casing from the other parts of the instrument, without disturbing the various parts of the pneumatic and casing, and without removing the operatively associated pow-er pneumatic, and with this and other objects in view, it is proposed by the present invention to provide the primary pneumatic and valve. casing of unitary structure with novel means of connection between the same and the operatively associated power pneumatic, whereby the parts may be bodily detached as desired.

It has been suggested in certain of my prior inventions to provide in a unitary metallic structure a valve casing and primary pneumatic, and l. preferably employ a simi lar construtcion of parts in connection with the present invention, wherein the power pneumatic is provided with means for detachably supporting the combined. primary pneumatic and valve casing in a compact manner, with the result that the primary pneumatic and valve casing may be removed from the vacuum chamber casing, either with or without ren'ioving the power pneumatic from its support.

In carrying out the invention, I preferably provide a. power pneumatic having relatively movable walls, with one wall thereof recessed to receive the combined pneumatic and valve casing, and novel means for detachably supporting the primary pneumatic and valve casing in place on the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Serial No. 870,034.

power pneumatic, and. in position relative to the vacuum chamber casing.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the several parts of my invention will be understood from the description to follow, which is to be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed, for the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention:

in the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts removed; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the sections with the vacuum casing in section.

\Vith more particular reference to the drawings,-lik i reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views. A power pneumatic is provided, the same preferably comprising an upper stationary wall 1, a lower movable wall 2, hingedly connected to the end 3, of said stationary wall, and the upper and lower walls being otherwise preferably connected, by flexible folds Al. It is to be understood that the upper stationary wall 1 has means of connection with the framework of the machine, which said framework is generally indicated at 5. removable bolts 6 being adapted to engage suitable blocks 7 secured t the outer surface of the stationary wall l of the power pueuniatics.

The stationary wall 1 of the power pneuniatic is preferably thickened toward the end. :3. and the upper surface of said stationary wall '1. at said thickened portion, is provided with a recess 8, adapted for the reception of a combined primary pneumatic and valve casing about to be described.

A wind chest or vacuum chamber casing 9, preferably comprises a rear wall 10, side walls 11, and a removable front wall 12, the latter being secured in place as by removable bolts 13, and a packing 1il being conveniently interposed between the front edges of the side walls 11 and the rear surface of the ren'iovable front wall 12, whereby to provide a sealed joint between. the walls of the vacuum chamber casing.

The rear wall 10 of the vacuum chamber casing is provided with slotted openings 15 one for each of the pneumatic actions, it being understood that a number of units comprising a primary pneumatic, a motor pneumatic, and operatively associated valve mechanism, are employed, each of which 1 eing operatively associated with the vacuum chamber which is common to all.

The primary pneumatic comprises a metallic bottom wall 16, having an annular side wall 17 connecting with an outwardly projecting flange 18, resting upon a recessed part 19 in the wall 1, it being understood that the under surface of said bottom wall 16 oi? the primary pneumatic will also rest upon the base of the recess 8, pr viously referred to.

he top wall 20 of the primary pneumatic has at its lower edge a peripheral flange 21, adapted to rest upon the flange 18 or the bottom wall, a yieldable washer 2.1 of unitable material being interposed between said flanges, and the flange 18 ot' the bottom wall preferably terminating in bendable parts 22 to engage over the upper surface of the peripheral flange of the top, whereby to re movably secure the top wall in place.

The valve casing includes a vertically extending tubular wall 23, having at its lower edge a return bent portion 24-, engaging under that portion of the top 20 which surrounds a central opening in said top.

A suitable washer, 26, is positioned upon the seat provided by the connection between the lower edge of the tubular valve casing and the top wall of the primary pneumatic element. A top member 27 having a central aperture 28 is positioned upon the upper edge of the tubular alve casing, 23, a yieldable washer 28 being inserted between the top 27 and said upper edge of the valve casing. A valve stem 29 is positioned upon the flexible diaphragm 30, interposed between the top and bottom walls of the primary pneumatic element, said valve stem having connected thereto a suitable valve disk 31, to engage the yieldable seat 26. The valve stem 29 has threaded. thereto an zuljustable extension 32, having a relatively flattened upper end 33, adapted to be loosely engaged by a cap 3 2, having at its lower edge a valve supporting part upon which prsitioned a valve disk 36, which latter in the upward movement of the valve stem, is adapted to engage the seat provided by the top wall 27 of the valve casing. The cap 34: is of a construction whereby to engage and impart rotary movement to the adjustable extension 32 of the valve stem, to the end that the valves may be relatively adjusted, as desired, and at the name time, the support for the upper valve makes said upper valve a floating one, whereby the same will be sel centering in operation.

Communication between the valve casing, at a point between the valve disks, and the interior of the power pneumatic is preferably provided by a plurality of substantially round tubular members 37, which latter are secured to the valve casing at one end, and at their opposite end to a detachable plate 38, positioned upon the stationary wall l. of the power pneumatic.

It is understood that the plate 38 is apertured so as to register with the interior of the conduits and with the interior of the power pneumatic through openings 39, in the stationary wall of the latter.

Removable screws or the like, $0, detachably support the plate 38 in place. A plate ll is adapted to overlie the outer surface of the rear wall 10 of the vacuum chamber cas ing at the slotted openings 15, a yieldable packing 42 being interposed between the plate and said wall 10. The plate 41 is preterably detachably secured in place, as by bolts 43. Communication between the primary pneumatic, at a point above the diaphragm, and the vacuum chamber casing is preferably established by substantially round conduits 4A projecting from the top 20 of the primary pneumatic, and connecting with the plate a1, which latter has an opening therethrough, whereby to establish communication between the conduits a l, and the vacuum chamber through the slotted opening 15 therein. A tubular member 16 connects with the bottom wall of the primary pneumatic, and passes through the plate 41 and thence through the slotted opening 15 ol the vacuum chamber casing for connection. with the conductor section 47, through the medium oi: a suitable coupling member 48. The upper end of the section, 47 in turn is detachably connected through the medium of a coupling 49, to the conductor section 50, which latter has a vent opening 51 within the vacuum chamber. One end of the section 50 projects through the rear wall 10 of the vacuum chamber casino". and is adapted for connection with other sections, which (romnuuiicate with the tracker, in any de sired manner.

From the description. it will be seen that in operation when airis permitted to pass through the tracker into the conductors it follows down under the primary diaphragm 30, lifting the valves, and permitting the ordinary operation of the pneumatic action.

As desired, the combined primary pneu matic and valve casing may be bodily removed from the wall of the power pneumatic, by disengaging the plates 38 and 41. On the other hand, the power pneumatic itself may be removed by disengaging the plate 38 and the removable screws 5.

l claim 1. la a. pneumatic action for musical instruments, the combination of an elongatcal vacinun chamber casing, a plurality of superimposed motor pneumatics arranged upon one side of the casing and supported thereupon, one wall of the motor pneumatics being stationary and having a recess therein, and primary pneumatic elements, one for each of said .recesses comprising opposed metallic walls and an interposed diaphragm, the lower wall being adapted to fit in said recessed portion of the power pneuinatics, valve casings supported upon the primary pneumatic elements, and a conduit projecting from the lower wall of the pneumatic elements at a point beneath the diapl'iragm, and extending through the vacuum chamber casing and having a vent opening in the chamber formed by said easmg.

52. Tu a pneumatic action for musical instruments, the combination of a vacuum chamber easing, a motor pneumatic supported upon one wall of said casing, said motor pneumatic having a fixed wall with a recess in the outer surface thereof, a primary pneumatic element comprising; a netallic bottom cup-shaped wall loosely positioned in the recess of the fixed wall of the motor pneumatic, a top wall, an interposed diaphragm between said. Walls, a valve casing positioned on the top wall valves within the casing operatively associated with the diaphragi'n, a conduit leading from the valve casing to the motor pneumatic. and a conduit leading from the bottom wall of the primary pneumatic element and passing through the vacuum chamber casing.

3. In a pneumatic action, the combination with a vacuum chamber casing, of a motor pneumatic, said motor pneumatic having a fixed wall, and a relatively movable wall, said fixed wall having a recessed part, a metallic unit comprising a combined. primary pneumatic and valve casing, said primary pneumatic h ving a cup-shaped bottom wall adapted to loosely rest in said. recessed part of the fixed wall of the pneumatic. and means for detachably supporting said unit to the vacuum chan'lber casing.

l, .ln a pneumatic action, the combination ol, :1 motor pneumatic comprising relatively movable walls. one o'i which has a receiving recess in its outer surface, a metallic primary pneumatic loosely positioned within said recess. means for detachably supporting said primary pneumatic in place, and means "for detachably supporting said primary pneumatic in place on the power pneumatic whereby the same may be removed indepein'lently of the motor pneumatic, said means including a valve casing mounted on. the primary pneumatic and a conduit leading from the valve casing and connected to the power pneun'ratic, and establishing counnunication between these parts.

5. In a pneumatic action, the combination of a motor pneumatic, comprising relatively movable walls, one of which has a receiving recess in its outer surface, a metallic primary pneumatic loosely positioned within said recess, and unconnected with the wall surrounding said recess and means for detachably supporting said primary pneumatic in place whereby the same may be removed independently of the motor pneumatic, a metallic valve casing supported upon and removable with the primary pneumatic, a vacuum chamber casing, and a corn duit leading from the valve chamber and extending longitudinally through the vacuum chamber casing and adapted at its opposito end to be connected with a tracker bar or the like.

G. In a pneumatic action, the combination of a motor pneun'iatic, l'iaving relatively movable walls, means for removably supporting the pneumatic in place, said pneumatic having a recess in one wall, a bodily removable metallic primary pneumatic element, piisitioned within said recess and tree from connection with the wall surrounding the same, a valve casing mounted on the primary meinmitic element, a vacuum chamber casing, a detachable connection between the vacuum chamber casing and the prima pneumatic, including a plurality oi? conduits projecting from the valve casing to one wall of the power pneumatic, saic concui s establishing communication between the valve casing and motor pneumatic, and means of communication between the primary pneumatic and the vacuum chamber casing, and a conduit projecting from the primary pneumatic and passing tl'nrough the vacuum chamber casing.

7. In a pneumatic action, the combination of a motor pneumatic having relatively movably walls, means for removably supporting the pneumatic in place, said pneumatic having a 'recess in one wall, a bodily removable metallic primary pneumatic eh ment 'iositioned within said recess and. uncomiected with the surrounding wall, a. vacuum chamber casing, said vacuum chamber casing having an o 'iening in one wall, a removable plate overlying said opening. and a conduit connected to said. plate and to the top wall of the primary pneumatic whereby to establish communication bet-ween the primary pneumatic and the vacuum chamber through said plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a pneumatic action, the combination of a motor pneumatic having relatively movable walls, means for removably supporting the pneumatic in place, said pneumatic having a recess in one wall, a bodily removable metallic primary pneumatic element positioned within said recess, a vacuum chamber casing, said vacuum chamber casing having an opening in one wall, a removable plate overlying said opening, a conduit connected to said plate and to the top wall of the primary pneumatic whereby to establish communication between the prin'iary pneumatic and the *acuum chamber through said plate, a second conduit leading from the lower wall of the primary pnemnatic into and through the vacuum chamber casing, a plate removably secured to one wall of the power pneumatic, and a conduit connecting with said plate at one end and with the valve casing at its opposite end, said last mentioned plate having an opening in registry with an opening in one wall of the power pneumatic whereby to establish communication between the power pneumatic and the valve casing.

9. In a pneumatic action for musical instruments, the combination of a motor pneumatic having in the fired wall thereof a recess, a primary pneumatic element positioned in said recess and unconnected with the surrounding wall thereof, a vacuum chamber casing, means of connection between the motor pneumatic and vacuum chamber casing, and a conduit leading from the lower wall of the primary pnemnatic element and projecting through the vacuum chamber casing, the said conduit having a vent opening at a point within said vacuum chamber casing.

10. in a pneumatic action for musical instruments, the combination of a. horizontally disposed motor pneumatic having a fixed upper wall, and said upper wall having a recess, a primary pneumatic element having a bottom wall detachably fitted in said recess of the motor pneumatic, and independent means for connecting the primary pneumatic element in place including a valve casing positioned on the top wall of the primary pneumatic element, and a plurality of metallic conduits projecting from the valve casing to the fixedvwall oi the motor pneumatic and establishing communication between these parts.

11. In a pneumatic action for musical in struments, the combination of a horizontally disposed motor pneumatic having a fixed upper wall, and said upper wall having a recess, a primary pneumatic element having a metallic cup-shaped bottom positioned in said recessed part of the motor pneumatic, and means for connecting the primary pneu matic element in place including a valve casing positioned on the top wall of the primary pneumatic element, and a plurality of metallic conduits projecting from the valve casing to the fixed wall of the motor pneumatic and establishing communication between these parts, a vacuum chamber casing, a metallic conduit leading from the top wall of the primary pneumatic element to the vacuum chamber casing, and a metallic conduit leading from the lower wall of the primary pneumatic element through the vacuum chamber casing and having an opening in the latterf 12. In a pneumatic action for musical instrm'nents, the combination of a horizontally disposed power pneumatic having a recess in the upper wall thereof, a primary pneumatic including opposed walls and an interposed diaphragm, the primary pneumatic being positioned in the recess of the power pneun'iatic, a valve casing superimposed on the primary pneumatic, a plurality oi metallic conduits leading from the valve casing to the motor pneumatic and establishing communication between these parts, a plurality of metallic conduits leading from the top wall of the primary pneumatic to the vacuum chamber casing and establishing communication between these parts, and a metallic conduit leading from the lower wall of the primary pneumatic element and projecting through the latter and having an opening intermediate its ends at a point within the vacuum chamber casing.-

in testlmony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MORRIS S. WRIGHT.

VVitnessos Gnmnunn L. Hannnnns, FRANCES G. DEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of iatents, Washington, D. C. 

